“You ain't seen nothin' yet,” is the phrase that comes to mind when I take a look at the HP Discover sessions on Internet of Things (IoT). Big Data mattered at past HP Discover conferences, but IoT is going to take it to the next level as projected in multiple sessions at HP Discover. Discover Theater session DT3621 from HP Labs discusses how the appliances in our homes, and the environment around us, generate data that must be harnessed and mined across the fabric of connected devices. At the same time, I am presenting on the on the impact of IoT on IT in a different Discover Theater session – DT3503. While gearing up for this session, I am reminded of a recent Twitter Chat, coordinated by the Enterprise CIO Forum, where it was abundantly clear that IoT is bound to matter to CIOs. Here are some of the key reasons why.

I’m a home office worker, using the efficiencies of virtual communication and collaboration technologies to maximize productivity. While work never stops, I am allowed certain degrees of freedom during the work day that an office environment doesn’t provide. For example, take my "attire" for the work day. I stay in casual attire that I am used to during off-hours. However, the emerging focus on wearables is painting a very different picture about my attire. It is a new world where the devices you wear are more likely to catch someone’s eye than your regular clothing. Wow! Look at that trend-setting dude wearing all those cool devices! Welcome to the world of Wear Your Own Devices (WYOD). Join me as I transform – head to toe – to supplement my usual attire with the wardrobe of the next generation.